Alexandra Grubman

Dr. Alexandra Grubman is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Monash University's Anatomy & Developmental Biology department, with a career spanning microbiology, neurodegenerative disorders, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). She completed her PhD at Monash under Prof Richard Ferrero, identifying Vitamin B synthesis as critical for Helicobacter pylori survival. Her postdoctoral work at the University of Melbourne focused on biometal homeostasis in Batten disease. In 2016, she joined Prof Jose Polo's lab at Monash to study microglia diversity in AD using single-cell sequencing, brain organoids, and iPSC models.

• Research Interests: Mechanisms of cell identity in AD, microglia-based therapies, and diet/gut-brain axis effects on cognition.
• Funding: Secured $1.9M as Chief Investigator across projects on brain organoids, iPSC reprogramming, and anti-inflammatory copper complexes.
• Key Contributions: Developed a single-cell transcriptome database for AD (http://adsn.ddnetbio.com/), a dual-fluorescent microglia reporter line, and demonstrated transcription factor-driven AD cell-state transitions.

Scientific Awards:

• NHMRC Dora Lush Scholarship
• Melbourne Neuroscience Institute Fellowship (2015)
• NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow (2016)

Supervision: Mentored 1 PhD graduate (1 current), 1 Master's, 4 Honours, and 5 undergraduate students.